Log rolling device incorporating vertical positioning means



H. A. WARNER LOG ROLLING DEVICE INCORPORATING VERTICAL POSITIONING MEANS A rfl 23, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 12, 1966 INVENTOR.

HARRY A. WARNER ATTORNEY April 23, 1968 H. A. WARNER 3,379,437

LOG ROLLING DEVICE .[NCORPORATING VERTICAL POSITIONING MEANS Filed April 12, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wan 3:

5 a F1! 1 u: 30 27 INVENTOR.

HARRY A. WARNER \n. 54 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,379,437 LG ROLLING DEVICE INCORPORATING VERTICAL POSITIONING MEANS Harry A. Warner, 3842 Leafy Way, Miami, Fla. 33133 Filed Apr. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 542,020 Claims. (Cl. 272-1) This invention relates to an amusement or exercising device and primarily for application to the water, such for instance as a swimming pool. The invention relates broadly to the well known sport of log rolling andwith the log in this instance being rotatably supported in end brackets and with the brackets and the log being floatingly supported within the water for the support of a human being.

Novel features of construction and operation of the device will be more clearly apparent'during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated a preferred form of the device and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a long rolling apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrated in use,

FIGURE 2 is a transverse section taken substantially on line 22 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on line 33 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is a central longitudinal section taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 5 is a section taken substantially on line 5--5 of FIGURE 4, and

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of the members at one end of the apparatus.

Referring specifically to the drawings, there has been provided a molded or otherwise formed cylindrical log 5 molded to simulate a log surface upon its outer side. The log 5 is axially cupped at its opposite ends, as indicated at'6 and the cup is provided with a bushing 7, constituting a bearing for a cylindrical pin or shaft 8. The shaft 8 is carried by a nut 9 that is threaded to engage a vertical threaded shaft 10, that is mounted into a slot 11 of an end bracket 12. The shaft projects beyond the lower end of the bracket 12 and is provided with a head 13 whereby the shaft 10 may be rotated by, a suitable tool, to cause the vertical adjustment of the log 5 with respect to the end brackets 12. The log 5 is preferably molded in any suitable manner and carries reinforcing rods 14 that are equidistantly spaced apart around the periphery of the log. The brackets 12 are disposed at each end of the log and the shaft 8 entering the bushings 7.

The bracket 12 at opposite edges are provided with extensions 15 that are apertured to receive screws or bolts 16, fixedly connecting supporting brackets 17 that engage the opposite ends of preferably foam rubber floats 18. The floats 18 are flat upon their upper and lower surfaces and are parallel with the log 5. The floats 18 receive pins 19 that extend in an axial direction from lugs 20, carried by the brackets 17. The floats 18 are fixedly anchored to the pins 19 by bolts 21. The floats 18 at points to either side of the longitudinal center of the device are apertured and provided with bushings 22, receiving a leg portion 23 of an upstanding handle member 24. The legs 23 are pinned at their ends, as indicated at 25, whereby to hold the handles 24 against displacement with respect to the floats. The handles 24 are formed of relatively heavy wire and extend upwardly from each of the floats 18. The handles 24 at their upper ends have telescopic connection "ice within a rubber or plastic sleeve 31 whereby the user of the device may support himself by his arms by the handles 24, while engaging his feet upon the surface of the log 5 to rotate the log in the water.

As a guard against a person slipping downwardly from the log and between the log and one of the floats, there has been provided a rectangular pan 26 having a bottom wall 27 and side walls 28. The side walls 28 are bent at right angles at their upper edges whereby to have sliding engagement upon a ledge 29 of a metallic strip that is embedded into the floats 18 at their inner bushings. The

pan 26 over its entire surface, including the bottom and the side walls are provided with staggered slots 30, whereby water may flow readily through the pan as the device is being used and is frequently submerged as the user steps upon the floats or the log and, should the user slip from the log, his feet will engage the bottom of the pan 26 and prevent him from sliding downwardly and possibly cause injury.

The device is adapted to be shipped in a knock-down form and it will be apparent, that the brackets 12 and 17 may be disassembled and readily packed in a suitable receptacle. The handles 24 may also be removed when either disassembling the device or readily mounted when the device is being assembled. 'Ihe pan 26 may slide into the groove formed by the ledge 29. The device is readily assembled after the receptacle has been received and with the pan being fitted upon the ledge 29, suitably spacing the floats 18 apart and the log 5 is then engaged with one bracket 12 and the other bracket 12 assembled in connection with the log and with the bracket 17 that carry the floats. The device is therefore easily assembled or disassembled and forms a very desirable exercising or amusement device that is floatingly supported upon the surface of the Water for the support of an individual whose purpose is to stand upon the log 5, rotating the log upon the pins 8. The log 5 is vertically adjustable by the nuts 9 toward and from a level corresponding to the floats 18 or at any degree above the surface of the floats.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a very novel type of amusement device has been provided, the several elements ar easily and cheaply molded from any suitable material having floatation qualities that are such as to readily support an individual either upon the floats or the logs.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. An amusement and exercise device of the character described that comprises an elongated cylindrical simulated log, the log being pivotally connected at its opposite ends to molded brackets whereby the log may be rotated in the water by the feet of an operator, the brackets being connected to elongated floats that are disposed upon opposite sides of the log and are parallel therewith, the floats being molded of flotation material, each float carrying an upstanding handle forming member and with the upper ends of the handle members being telescopic whereby to assist in maintaining the operator upon the surface of the log.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the opposit pivotal ends of the log are vertically adjustable in the brackets to vary the immersion of the log into the water.

3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the floats carry downwardly projecting guides upon their adjacent edges and with the guides supporting a generally U-shaped pan that constitutes a stop for the feet of the operator, should be slip from the log and with the pan being provided with a multiplicity of slots that permit the flow of water therethrough when weight is disposed upon floats.

4. A 10g rolling device for exercise and amusement that comprises a simulated cylindrical log of molded material and with the log at its opposite ends being provided with cylindrical axial cavities, a bracket plate at each end of the log for receiving a pin carried by the bracket and whereupon the log is rotatable, the pin being carried by a nut that is threadedly engaged with a threaded rod that extends vertically through the brackets, the log being molded of plastic and provided with reinforcing rods at spaced apart intervals throughout its circumference, molded plastic flotation members disposed upon opposite sides of the log in spaced apart relation to the log and with the floats being supported by detachable extensions of the bracket plate, each of the floats being provided with apertures intermediate the length of the log and the floats for receiving a downturned end of a handle member, the handle members projecting upwardly from the floats and connected at their upper ends for engagement with the hands of the operator, each of the floats inwardly of their adjacent edges having molded therein a guide rail that supports a flange upon a safety pan whereby to prevent the legs of the user from slipping downwardly should he slip from the log.

5. A log rolling device as defined in claim 4 wherein the log and the flotation members are molded of foam rubber and with the log and the floats being disassembled from the brackets to permit the convenient storage of th device for shipping purposes.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,407,642 2/1922 Day et al.

2,017,885 10/1935 Atcheson 27269 2,175,197 10/1939 Kent 2721 2,931,648 4/1960 Davies 2721 ANTON 0. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

P. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN AMUSEMENT AND EXERCISE DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED THAT COMPRISES AN ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL SIMULATED LOG, THE LOG BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ITS OPPOSITE ENDS TO MOLDED BRACKETS WHEREBY THE LOG MAY BE ROTATED IN THE WATER BY THE FEET OF AN OPERATOR, THE BRACKETS BEING CONNECTED TO ELONGATED FLOATS THAT ARE DISPOSED UPON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE LOG AND ARE PARALLEL THEREWITH, THE FLOATS BEING MOLDED OF FLOTATION MATERIAL, EACH FLOAT CARRYING AN UPSTANDING HANDLE FORMING MEMBER AND WITH THE UPPER ENDS OF THE HANDLE MEMBERS BEING TELESCOPIC WHEREBY TO ASSIST IN MAINTAINING THE OPERATOR UPON THE SURFACE OF THE LOG. 